Riley looked around him and smiled faintly.
The vast courtyard was bathed in silvery moonlight, and thousands of disciples sat in silence, their gazes fixed upon the stage.
Rising slowly, Riley adjusted his robes and walked forward with calm, unhurried steps.
The murmurs that filled the air faded as he took his place at the forefront.
"It is night now," he began, his voice steady and clear.
"My fellow senior disciples have already spoken at length about the many paths of cultivation and the countless trials one must endure. Each of them has shared wisdom forged through experience—lessons of failure, perseverance, and enlightenment. I find that I have little to add to their words."
He paused briefly, his eyes sweeping across the crowd.
The faces before him reflected a mix of awe, curiosity, and determination.